Under the Special Areas Act,the Special Areas Board is responsible for the administration of approximately 2.6 million acres of public land within the area. These lands consist of 1.6 million acres of Crown land and 1 million acres of Tax Recovery land. The Special Areas Board leases these lands to local farmers and ranchers for grazing and cultivation purposes. As well the Special Area Board also issues leases to oil and gas producers for the development and production of natural gas and oil reserves.

What's New in the Special Areas?

Upcoming Events and Information

As Jay Slemp has retired as Chairman of the Special Areas Board, Jordon Christianson (Director of Property Administration) has been appointed Acting Chairman of the Special Areas Board by the Deputy Minister of Municipal Affairs.

This appointment will be for the interim until a new Chairman is selected and appointed by Cabinet. The open competition closed on February 20, 2015.

You can reach Jordon via email at Jordon.christianson@specialareas.ab.ca or at (403) 854-5600.

ROAD CLOSURE starting on December 2, 2014 on Range Road 12-1 from Township Road 22-3 to Township Road 22-3.5 near Wardlow. The road is being closed for gravel crushing. It's projected to wrap-up in mid- March. Alternate routes to avoid this closure are Highway 876 and Range Road 11-3. If you have any concerns contact the Youngstown Service Centre. (Road Closure is highlighted in yellow on this map of the area in the link below)

Please slow down when traveling through construction zones; it may cost you only a minute but it may cost us a life!

SPECIAL AREAS HAS AN APP!

The Special Areas Board now offers an app to iPad and iPhone users. The app shows current local weather status as well as where recent snowplow activity has taken place in rural roads. We are very excited to have this app available for free on the iTunes App store and can be downloaded by searching for "Special Areas" or by following the provided link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/special-areas/id797758500?ls=1&mt=8

ALSO, we’re offering the same information that our iOS app has on the www.sabmaps.com website. This site requires a Silverlight capable browser.

WE ARE HIRING!

As the agency responsible for public land management, the Special Areas Board issues and administers surface dispositions to Oil & Gas companies on public land for the purpose of the development of natural resources.